Story Time: John Doe, JD, From Where I'm Sitting

 

As told by…

A non-existent witness

by Mary Vee

 

From where I’m sitting. What an amusing statement. The very words practically qualify me as a judge.

 

Coincidentally, I am. I have been a circuit court judge for ten years and have listened to cases that would bend a dog’s ear and make a granny frown. The things people do and expect to receive leniency for boggles my mind. 

 

Take, for example the case currently in my court. A woman driving a four-door Dodge ramped up her radio to hear the rest of a story on the Moth program aired on NPR when the semi-truck driver next to her leaned on his brakes creating a disturbing noise. She, of course, didn’t have his perspective of the road from high in the semi driver’s seat. A unique view, in this case, which enabled him to see what was to come. 

 

The Moth story had so intrigued the woman, she thought nothing of what would happen next to her, but only what would happen next in the story. She sped up to get away from the noisy semi and barreled on through the green light intersection.

 

Where, at the last second, out of her peripheral vision she saw a rifle held by a masked man in a building to her left. His weapon aimed into the park on her right.

 

She slammed on the brakes, 

              which set her car in motion, weaving across the road, attracting the attention of those in the park.

 

The clamor sent panicked lovers, mothers and their children, and singles screaming and running for cover, 

              which frustrated the shooter, who apparently, no longer had his target in the crosshairs of his rifle, 

              which sent him packing. 

 

Fortunately, the semi driver had called in the incident before leaping from the truck’s cab, sprinting across the street, and slammed into the shooter who attempted to casually exit the building. 

 

I must admit, from where I’m sitting, I can’t decide if the woman driving the four-door Dodge should be released from charges or not. I’m inclined to let her off with a warning.

Stay tuned for more Story Time Stories

on Today's Writers and Readers World. 😎

Photo courtesy: free digital photos.com. Photo by Marin, published on 14 November 2012